Breeding

Little known. In one study in Ecuador, copulation was recorded in mid-November, egg-laying occurred in November, December, and February, egg-hatching occurred from late November to early March, and chicks left their nests between late February and early May (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ). Across the rest of the distribution, it may have a similar phenology, with nests recorded in Cuzco in January, with well-grown chicks in mid-February (Allasi Condo, eBird; Saire and Conori, eBird).

Selection Process

Information needed.

Microhabitat

Information needed.

Site Characteristics

All documented nests have been found on cliff faces (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ; Allasi Condo, eBird; Saire and Conori, eBird). In Ecuador, one study found that all the nests were placed on cliffs near waterfalls (mean distance of 5.5 ± 2.1 m), and were oriented southwest; nests were built on flat stone ledges on cliffs. Nest height above the ground ranged between 8 and 33 m (n = 4 nests; 28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Structure and Composition

Nests are bulky platform structures. In Ecuador, nests were described as being constructed with "short twigs, straws, and shredded pieces of fine vegetation" (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Dimensions

In one study in Ecuador, nest width ranged between 40–98 cm, had a depth between 35–158 cm, and a height between 30–152 cm (n = 4 nests; 28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Microclimate

All nests were within close range of waterfalls where decibel levels ranged from 12–69 dB (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Maintenance and Reuse of Nests

Luzuriaga et al. (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ) reported that one nest platform was reused two years after initially being discovered with two chicks; additional nesting material was added in the subsequent breeding season.

Shape

Oval shape (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Size

Approximately 4.5 to 5 cm in length (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ). Width not described.

Mass

Information needed.

Eggshell Thickness

Information needed.

Color and Surface Texture

Eggs have been described as light brown with dark brown dots, especially concentrated at the large end (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Clutch Size

All known nests had a clutch of two eggs (n = 4 nests) (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Egg Laying

Eggs are laid asynchronously (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Incubation Patches

Information needed.

Incubation Period

Luzuriaga et al. (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ) assumed the incubation period to be about 27 d, based on the incubation period of Black-faced Ibis, but nothing is specifically known about incubation period in Andean Ibis.

Parental Behavior

Very little information. In one study in Ecuador, it was reported that parents alternated incubation duties (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Preliminary Events and Vocalizations

Information needed.

Shell Breaking and Emergence

In one study from Ecuador, within a nest, eggs hatched asynchronously over a 48 h period (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Condition at Hatching

Information needed.

Growth and Development

Very little information. Nestlings began stretching their wings and practicing flight during week 6 after hatching, and were able to fly and leave the nest by the end of week 7 after hatching (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Brooding

Little known. In one study, one parent stayed with the chicks during the first three weeks after egg-hatching, with parents alternating every 3 h during the first 2 weeks (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Feeding

Both parents feed the chicks. In a study in Ecuador, feeding rates varied over the course of the nestling period, but generally chicks were fed 3–5 times a day. At one nest, feeding visits, recorded as the percent of time adults spent at the nest feeding, ranged from 8–15%, and was lower in weeks 6 and 7 (11% and 8%, respectively) compared to weeks 3 and 4 (14% and 15%, respectively) (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Nest Sanitation

Information needed.

Carrying of Eggs or Young

Nothing known but unlikely.

Nothing known but unlikely.

Nothing known but unlikely.

Departure from the Nest

In Ecuador, nestlings fledged at about 49 d after hatching (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Growth

Information needed.

Association with Parents or Other Young

Fledglings are fed after the leaving the nest. In one study, young were observed foraging with their parents up to 10 months after fledging. Others were noted in larger flocks that roosted together which likely also contained their parents and family groups from other nests (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Ability to get Around, Feed, and Care for Self

By the end of week 7 after hatching, young were able to fly and were observed foraging near the nest site (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).

Very little information. Marked young were seen 20 km away from their nest (28 Luzuriaga Neira, N., D. Cuichán, M. da Costa, and N. Reyes (2021). Observations on the breeding biology of the Andean Ibis (Theristicus branickii) in Ecuador. Ornithology Research 29(1):22-28 Close ).